SABC DENIES SALE OF SABC 3, METRO FM, 5FM AND GOOD HOPE FM
Johannesburg- Monday, 10 February 2020 – The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has been made aware of an article by Inside Politics African Narrative published on 04 February 2020, claiming to have exclusive access to a document titled ‘Repurposing the State Owned Enterprises as Instruments for Economic Growth’. According to the article the document proposes, amongst other things, that government should privatise SABC3, Metro FM, 5FM and Good Hope FM.
Because of the potential uncertainty this information can cause, the SABC believes it is necessary to clarify that it is not intending to sell the assets mentioned in the article and has had no discussions with Government in this regard. As requested by National Treasury and the Ministry of Communications and Digital Technologies, the SABC is conducting a thorough process of assessing all its assets, determining which are core and non-core, taking into account a range of factors including public mandate, licence conditions and financial contribution.
The SABC Board has approved comprehensive assessment criteria for determining core media assets, noting that a core asset is not only a station or channel which contributes to the public mandate but also one which help funds the SABC’s public service obligations. With respect to non-core property assets, the Board has already identified non-core property assets and has drawn up a list of properties for disposal, as required by National Treasury preconditions.
The potential disposal of any of the SABC’s media assets involves a much more complex decision matrix, with factors such as the public interest, the public mandate and the future financial sustainability of the SABC being central to any decision.
In light of the above mentioned factors, the SABC categorically denies that these media assets have been identified for sale.
The SABC remains committed to ensuring that the public service broadcaster fulfils its public service mandate and at the same time striving to be a financially sustainability institution.
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Issued By: Group Communications
Media Enquiries: Ms. Mmoni Seapolelo, SABC Spokesperson (Acting)
seapolelomv@sabc.co.za|T. 011 714 3057|C. 073 688 1590
